Roller



(No Model.)

J. 0. REID & A. E. WARREN. ROLLER APPLIANCE FORROCKING CHAIRS.

Patented Jan. 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

JAMES C. REID AND ALBERT E. IVARREN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ROL LER APPLIANCE FOR ROCKING-CHAIRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,630, dated January 5, 1897.

Application filed September 5, 1896. Serial No. 604,940. (No model.) I

To (LZZ whom, (It 7IM6Z/ concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES C. REID and ALBERT E. VVARREN, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Roller Appliance for Rocking-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improved roller attachments for rocking-chairs, whereby the chair may be used either as arocking or roller chair. Its object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which may be quickly and easily fixed to the rockers of any rockingchair of the ordinary sort for the purpose of converting it into a rolling-chair when desired, thus making it very convenient for invalids use or for moving heavy chairs about.

It consists of shifting rollers fastened to the inner side of the rockers of the chair, which we will now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair provided with our invention. Fig. 2 is an inside elevation of one of the roller attachments shown in the position it occupies when in use. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. etis a section through the center line 00 a; of Fig. 2.

One of the roller attachments is right hand and the other left hand and consist of a metal plate A, which is fastened securely to the inside of the rocker, and a strap B, of malleable iron or other suitable material, which extends around the roller 0 and also carries the same on its hollow stud D, Fig. 4.

The stud D has a hardened-steel sleeve J driven onto it, and the hub of the roller 0 carries steel-ball races K,which are driven into recesses in each end, thus forming an antifriction ball-bearing. Inside the hollow stud D is inserted a small shaft or pin E, made of larger diameter at the outside end to form a shoulder for the spiral spring to bear against, and on the inside end it is provided with a hook F, to which is attached a chain L, the other end of which is connected in a similar manner to the opposite roller attachment, as indicated in Fig.'1.- The strap B also carries small studs G and H. The stud G is inserted through a hole in the plate A and riveted to it loosely, thus forming a pivot on which the strap B, with the roller, may swing. The stud H is inserted through the slot I of the plate A and riveted in a similar manner.

In operating the device the chair is tilted forward by the attendant,who then presses his foot on the chain L, which, pulling on the pins E, overcomes the pressure of the springs, thereby destroying the frictional contact between the large ends of the pins and the plates A, and also forcing the straps B, carrying the rollers, to swing downward about the pivots G until the studs H reach the lower ends of the slots I, when the chain being released the pins E springoutward into suitable apertures in the plates A, thus locking the rollers securely in their lower position, and the chair may then be readily balanced and rolled about.

hen it is desired to throw the rollers out of operation, the attendant inserts his toe under the chain, which releases the pins E, and in rocking the chair backward the rollers are forced upward, or, in other words, the center line y y of the strap B, Fig. 2, takes the position of the line a z and the roller and strap the position indicated by dotted lines.

The rollers are held up by the friction between the ends of the pins E and the plates A.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a roller appliance for rocking-chairs, metallic straps B, and shifting rollers O, journaled thereon, which straps are held in bearings attached to the rockers of the chair, in combination with locking-pins mounted centrally in the journals of the rollers, and provided with suitable springs which pins are joined together by a chain or other flexible connection, substantially as described.

2. The plate A, fixed securely to the rocker of the chair, provided with a radial slot I, and a metallic strap B, one end of which has a pivotal bearing in the plate A, and a stud fixed to the other end of the strap B, and adapted to slide in the slot I, and a roller 0, journaled on strap B, near its center, for the purpose set forth.

3; In a roller appliance for rocking-chairs, &c. the plate A, adapted to be firmly attached to the chair and containing a suitable aperture to engage the locking-pin, combined with the strap B, pivoted to the plate A, and a roller journaled on strap B, and also carrying a locking-pin E, held in bearings in strap B, and provided with a spring for the purpose of forcing it into the aperture in the plate A, in its lower position and to create frictional contact between the end of the pin and the plate A, in its other position, substantially as described.

The combination in a roller appliance of the plate A, having pivoted to it a strap 13, which strap has near its center a hollow cylindrical projection D, 011 the outside surface of which is journaled the roller 0, and inside of which projection and extending through the strap, a locking-pin is fitted to slide, substantially as shown.

5. In a roller appliance for chairs, &c. the combination of plates A, and straps B, havin g cylindrical projections D, on which rollers are adapted to turn and through which lookin g-pius, encircled by and having bearings for spiral springs, are fitted to slide, which pins are provided on their inside ends With hooks F, or other suitable attachments for a chain or other flexible connection joining them together, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the plate A, the roller C, provided with steel-ball races K, and the strap B, with its cylindrical projection D, over which is fitted a steel sleeve J, between which and the races K, are placed steel balls, thus to r min g an antifriction-bearin g, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses, at Cleveland, Ohio, September 3, 1896.

JAMES C. REID. ALBERT E. VARREN. Witnesses:

J. H. VAN DERVEER, W. L. (Beams. 

